The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-03
THRIFTY CORNER GROCERS
A Few Men Who Are Acquiring Wealth
by Supplying Family Necessities.
Some Of the Personal characteristics of Them
Noticed by People Who Buy Regu-
larry from Their Stocks.

TO three eerks--s few even many as six or
eight-there are persons enough in this trade TO
make two good regiments The retail grocer il
usually a man Of considerable polfGicsl influence
IN his neighborhood, but he seldom exerts this
influence to place himself in q position, and he
rarely appears a candidate for Office Now
and then solitary grocer makes his way into
the Common Council or Board Of Aldermen, and
speedily becomes conspicuous by lis rarity. His
Observation-Disclosures brother liz not so modest, ana
there is never Common Council but the liquor
seler is there in sufficient numbers to make his
presence palpable force.
There is probably no business that requires
closer and more careful management and atten-
ton than that Of the retail grocer. Like in
farming and the newspaper business. nearly
every man thinks he can run grocery" The
consequence is that tee faiuresin other pursuits
engage in the grocery trade. but. as rule. they
do not last long, and after few brief weeks or
months they drop out, and the places that have
known them know them no more forever.
Among the successful young grocers of Indi-
annapolis is James L. Barnitt corner of Missis-
sippi and North streets Mr. Barnitt has been
in the trade for about four years, taking what
considered small stock and little trade
and making good business out of it.
Some men are born grocers. and. when they
go into that pursuit, at once strike winning
gate. Such is the of Mr. Leck. the grocer,
at the corner of Seventh and Illinois streets. He
started in five years ago without experience,
taking the establishments of +. E. Smith, where
he has built up good business
William Pfafiin, on Indiana avenue, does one
OF the largest retail businesses in the city. Mr..
Pfaffiin not always a grocer though he
seems fitted to the trade would SUD-
pose him ever to have been anything else He
got his business education, though, in very
different line-in good school--as for years he
was in the employ of the toy man. Charles
Mayer. and travelled for that house. Mr. Pfaf-
lin 10 wide awake and energetic ana has accumu-
lated considerable property.
George Hammel, on Massachusetts avenue, is
one OF the best-known grocers in the city. He
began business fifteen years AGO. He drives
prosperous trade. ana is painstaking and ac-
commodating. He is of the pillars of
Roberts Park NJ E. Church.
j. II. Power OF North Pennsylvania street,
came to this city from Muncie about fifteen years
ago. where he a general dealer in groceries
and dry goods Muncie was then too small for
the business he desired to conduct, though with
it's natural gas advantages IL is now nearer the
mark. Dir. Power has the faculty Of moving
about among the greasiest commodities of the
place and yet always looking neat and trim and
unspotted Ii is asserted that he could go
through a weeks trade in a duck linen suit and
come out with his garments unsoiled
John Hanraman who has built up paying
business in the extreme northeast part of the
city, came here from johnson county, and start
ed on q very small capital He was determined
TO win, and for couple of years did his own
washing and cooking He has been successful
and has acquired property
George b. Walton. the Christian-avenueg grocer,
came to this city from Rush county about twelve
years ago. He has straightforward business
principles, and seems TO exactly fit the neiehbor-
hood in which he Is located. and where he has
been very successful Mr.. Walton is a Meth
odist Sunday aud not only on Sunday, for it
is condition that attaches TO him all the days
OF the week. ii
Christian Schetter is one OF the best-known
grocers on the South Side. his place of business
now being at the corner of Pennsylvania and
Merrill streets, where he has built q new block.
He is ffty-two 6fty-three years old. with a
round, smiling countenance and with rather
less hair than goes with the average head. He
is we'll of and has made all he Is worth in the
grocery trade.
VIM. Buschman has doubtless been in the
business longer continually than any grocer in
the city. lie has bEilr up great trade the
corner or Fort Wayne avenue and ST Mary's
street, and has put a part of the money he has
accumulated from year to year in large block
which adds to the wholesome appearance of the
street
Charles Kemker. at the corner of Alabama
and St Joseph streets, always has his place in
apple pie order and 1t is instant death for 6y |
70 appear on the premises. Mr. Kemker has an |
everyday, conservative business that affords |
profits
Adam Bretz has been in the retail grocery |
trade thirty five years. He recently dis |
possessed or his old stand by the new Union /
Depot, but his grief at severing old associations
IS to locality was healed with $40. 900 cash paid
him for the property. Mr.. Bretz is sixty-seven
years old, and all his friends thought he would
ais $50 600 cash. considerable property. He did
lothiug Of the kind. but, removing TO another
ocation. continued right He has recently
Fought the Marmont Hall property.
John II. Eagle, at the corner of Fort Wayne
venue and Delaware street. is ex-printer,
md in his day aud generation was considered
me Of the best in the country For several
ears, Up to twenty-one years ago, Mr.. Eagle
vas foreman of the indianapolis Journal In |
hose days. for more reasons than one. the fore
nan must needs be a man of muscle. He had TO
thm hnn Of nj and w.@
hree or four times n week to kick vagranr
runken printers down stairs. Becoming tired
this latter occupation. which was very arduous
after the war Mr. Eagle went
1to the grocery trade affording somewhat
sss excitement Though for few years Mr..
'aele seemed to miss his accustomed exercise,
Q finally became accustomed to the busi-
ess and developed into q steady-Roing. prosper
as family grocer He attends strictly to bust
ess aud ia an active member Of the Tippecanoe
Tub.
A Lewis, who has prosperous trade at the
orner OF Alabama and st. Clair streets. is a
oung man peculiarly well adapted to the bust
ess. He has extensive acquaintance, aud |
IL delivery wagons may be seen in parts of the
ty remote from his store. He is rigidiy relig-
'us, bachelor. and Is altogether very proper
Dung man.
Henry J. Mauer, whose place OF business is at
os 4l6 and AIS Indiana avenue, held seat in
ie Council for some time a testimonial to his
opularitv among the people who trade with
i'm bis store LIS sort of neighborhood
Rs oank, a. tits the meeting-place of several
lidlng and savings associations, for two or
Tree OK which Mr.. Mauer is the financial secre-
Try.
jacob {. Surbey occupies historic and romantic
'ound, SPOT that has been much written about
ON time TO time by local historians, and has
rem been years ago, embalmed in poetry by
ranville III. Ballard. 1t is the Em-tree gro
ry. and though the Elm tree has disappeared
g grocer and the grocery remain and prosper
One OF the most successful South side grocers
Henry Bnddenbaum, doing business at the
rner of Noble street and Fletcher avenue
r. Budden baum's business life began nine
airs ago as clerk for ex Alderman G. G. Krue
hen he started for himself he showed that lie
q a thorough knowledge of the business By
ring strict attention to business and by
emptiness and proper courtesy, he has sue
eded In building up large and prosperous
ade.
An old fashioned grocer is Edward Miller No
East Washington street. who day in aud day
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